Introduced on December 13, 2009, the BPA-Free Kids Act seeks to ban Bisphenol-A (BPA) from food and beverage containers intended for children ages 3 years and under.

BPA is used in hard plastic bottles, food can linings, dental sealants, CDs and other consumer products, and is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. It was originally developed as a synthetic estrogen, and is now one of the most widely-produced chemicals in the world.

The bill would ban companies from producing these products and making them available to consumers. It would also set requirements for testing, labeling and marketing products. The bill is comprehensive, and includes penalties for violations and funding for research on the effects of the chemical.

Senators Schumer (D-NY) and Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the legislation. A similar bill (Senator Feinstein's Ban Poisonous Additives Act) was introduced in March of 2009. Senator Feinstein's bill is a complete and permanent ban on BPA, while the BPA-Free Kids Act only concerns children's food and beverage products.

The legislation has been sitting in committee for over a year now, which is not a good sign. While many pieces enter committee, few make it out. However the good news is that many states have taken an initiative to ban BPA. Maryland is the latest to join the ban, making it the 5th state (Connecticut, Minnesota, Washington State, Wisconsin, Chicago, as well as Albany County, Schenectady County and Suffolk County, New York), with other states soon to follow suit. With more states becoming BPA-free, it won’t be long until there is national ban!

Check Out the Tips and Tools for Action to find out how to make your state BPA free!

Additional Resources:

• Timeline on BPA
• May 2010 BPA Study: You have a 9 in 10 chance of eating some BPA with tonight’s dinner
• FDA’s updated response to BPA
• Read Full Text of BPA-Free Kids Act

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